chestnut brew works

What chestnut brew works does

Chestnut Brew Works is a craft brewery founded in 2013 by Bill Rittenour in Morgantown, West Virginia. The company produces a portfolio of flagship and seasonal beers — including Halleck Pale Ale, Your Best Hoption IPA, Stunt Hawg IPA, South Park Porter, Dad Jokes Pilsner, Class II Wheatwater, The Bloob, and the Kerchev-Ale Pilsner collaboration — using traditional and contemporary brewing techniques such as late kettle hopping, multiple dry hops, and specialized yeast fermentation on a 7-barrel (217-gallon) brewing system located at 444 Brockway Ave in the historic Greenmont neighborhood. Founder Rittenour's academic background in forestry and fungal biology informs a science-driven brewing process that distinguishes the operation among small craft breweries.

The company operates two revenue channels: direct-to-consumer sales through its taproom (open Wednesday–Saturday, 4–9 PM, with on-site consumption and to-go purchases) and wholesale distribution to 70+ bars, restaurants, and retail stores across West Virginia. Pricing follows a unit-pricing model, with individual product prices ranging from approximately $21.76 to $91.11 depending on product and volume. Customer segments include local craft beer enthusiasts and WV hospitality businesses, with a secondary audience of community-minded consumers drawn to the brewery's partnerships with local artists, craftsmen, farmers, and small businesses.

Chestnut Brew Works is founder-owned with no external investors or parent company disclosed, and operates with a small team led by Rittenour, brewer Josh Taylor (joined 2015), and taproom manager Amber Huffman (joined 2015). The company has earned local awards including "Best of the Fest" at the 2022 Hops on the Mon festival, and emphasizes sustainability practices such as wood salvaging and spent grain repurposing as part of its community-focused brand identity.

Name

chestnut brew works

Legal name

Chestnut Brew Works

Website

https://chestnutbrewworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chestnut Brew Works is a Morgantown, West Virginia craft brewery founded in 2013 that produces flagship and seasonal beers for wholesale distribution to 70+ WV bars, restaurants, and stores, plus direct taproom sales at its Brockway Avenue location.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Craft beer distribution
• Taproom operations
• Wholesale beer sales
• Appalachian craft brewing

Headquarters

HQ city

Morgantown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Taproom Sales: Direct beer sales through taproom at 444 Brockway Ave, Morgantown for on-site consumption and to-go purchases. Taproom open Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution of packaged and draft beer to 70+ bars, restaurants, and stores throughout West Virginia state

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chestnut Brew Works is a craft brewery that brews and distributes hand-crafted beer across a portfolio of flagship and seasonal styles (pale ales, IPAs, porters, pilsners, wheat and fruited blondes). The company sells direct-to-consumer through its taproom at 444 Brockway Ave in Morgantown, WV and distributes to 70+ bars, restaurants, and stores throughout West Virginia.

Product overview

Chestnut Brew Works is a craft brewery offering a portfolio of flagship and seasonal beers. Their core lineup includes: Halleck Pale Ale (flagship pale ale), Your Best Hoption IPA (West Coast-style), Stunt Hawg IPA (New England-style hazy), South Park Porter (robust porter), Dad Jokes Pilsner (Appalachian pilsner), Class II Wheatwater (wheat beer), The Bloob (fruited blonde ale), and Kerchev-Ale Pilsner (collaboration pilsner). They also offer merchandise. The brewery operates from a taproom at 444 Brockway Ave. in Morgantown, WV, and their beers are available at 70+ locations across West Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Halleck Pale Ale Flagship pale ale (ABV 6.0%, IBUs 42) and the original beer brewed at Chestnut Brew Works' Halleck Road location. A delectably hoppy pale ale with slight malt nuttiness and pleasant bitterness without harshness.
• South Park Porter Traditional robust porter (ABV 5.9%, IBUs 39) blending pale, Munich, crystal and roasted malts for a malty ale with chocolate and coffee notes.
• Stunt Hawg IPA New England-style hazy IPA (ABV 6.4%, IBUs 35) loaded with Citra and Mosaic hops, using late kettle hopping, multiple dry hops, and special yeast fermentation for tropical character without harsh bitterness.
• Your Best Hoption IPA West Coast-style IPA (ABV 8.2%, IBUs 100) built on Munich and crystal malts to support the bitterness and flavor of generous Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops.
• Dad Jokes Pilsner Modern take on a classic Appalachian pilsner — blonde, easy-drinking beer with solid malt background and hoppy freshness, brewed with German pilsner malt and dry-hopped Czech Saaz hops with a clean fermenting yeast.
• Class II Wheatwater Hazy wheat beer brewed with coriander and tangerine, giving a citrusy, slightly sweet and spicy character; lighter style with lower alcohol for drinkers preferring less intense hop, malt, or sour profiles.
• The Bloob Bloo-berry fruited blonde ale — smooth, slightly tart, with strong blueberry aroma and flavor and a slightly sweet, slightly grainy, mostly dry finish.
• Kerchev-Ale Pilsner Appalachian pilsner celebrating WV radio great Hoppy Kercheval; American pilsner malt base with a touch of flaked corn, generously dry-hopped with Mosaic and Citra hops for citrus, floral, and fruity aromas with light bitterness.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distribution across 70+ bars, restaurants and stores in West Virginia

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brian PickenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Brian Pickens is a local illustrator, graphic designer, and muralist who has been the artist behind Chestnut Brew Works logo and all beer labels for over eight years. His bright colors and bold designs reflect the fun, funk, and flavor of their beers.
• Hoppy KerchevalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023WV radio legend Hoppy Kercheval partnered with Chestnut Brew Works on Kerchev-Ale, a dry-hopped Appalachian Pilsner. This collaboration celebrates the WV radio great with a beer featuring citrus, floral, and fruity aromas and flavors.
• 3 Guys Before the GameminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with WV radio program 3 Guys Before the Game for collaborative promotion of Kerchev-Ale beer.
• Scott Frederick (Premium Weathered)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorgantown native and craftsman Scott Frederick has helped bring rustic authenticity to the brewery through his woodworking artistry. His knowledge of wood helps Chestnut Brew Works pay homage to West Virginia roots.
• Mike KashonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorgantown-based woodworker who has been crafting carved tap handles for the brewery for years. Sources handles from a Chinese chestnut tree in his yard and reclaimed wood.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boston Beer Company: Large national craft brewer (Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea, Dogfish Head). Competes with Chestnut for tap handles and shelf space at WV accounts but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio breadth.
• New Belgium Brewing Company: National craft brewery (Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger) owned by Kirin. Competes in IPA and amber categories where Chestnut's core SKUs overlap, with broad distribution reaching into West Virginia accounts.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: National craft brewery (Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Hazy Little Thing) with national distribution and a taproom at its flagship Chico, CA facility. Direct overlap with Chestnut on pale ale and hazy IPA categories, with much broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Weathered Ground Brewery: West Virginia craft brewery with taproom and regional distribution. Comparable craft production scale, brewpub-taproom channel mix, and WV market focus.
• Bridge Brew Works: West Virginia craft brewery based in Huntington with taproom and statewide distribution. Comparable small-scale craft operator with similar IPA-forward portfolio and brewpub-style direct sales.
• Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company: West Virginia craft brewery with taproom in Lewisburg and statewide distribution. Comparable in product mix (flagship IPAs, porters, seasonal offerings) and channel strategy (DTC taproom plus wholesale).
• Blackwater Brewing Company: West Virginia craft brewery in Davis, WV, with taproom and distribution across the state. Comparable craft scale, Appalachian identity, and brewpub retail model.
• Big Draft Brewing: Craft brewery based in Morgantown, WV, operating a taproom with on-site sales and distributing craft beer across West Virginia. Most direct local competitor given shared geography, comparable scale, and similar brewpub-taproom model.
• Short Story Brewing: West Virginia craft brewery operating a taproom and distributing across the state. Comparable small-batch craft model, local brand identity, and brewpub-taproom channel strategy.
• Mountain State Brewing Company: West Virginia craft brewery with taproom in Thomas, WV and statewide distribution. Comparable small-scale craft operator with similar flagship-and-seasonal product mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chestnutbrews
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChestnutBrewWorks
• Instagraminstagram.com/chestnut_brew_works/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about chestnut brew works